Stay Tuned: 3-2-1! ‘MythBusters’ is back

Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 at 10:53 AMNov 28, 2017 at 10:53 AM

Melissa Crawley More Content Now

I had a high school chemistry teacher who would occasionally toss candy from his desk to reward class participation. A room full of post-lunch 16-year-olds needing an afternoon sugar fix and any novel reason to become interested in chemistry usually meant that his unorthodox strategy was well-received. The premise behind “MythBusters” is sort of like my chemistry teacher’s approach but instead of a sugar rush making science fun it offers explosions — lots of explosions.

Back with new hosts Brian Louden and Jon Lung, the show keeps its original format, using unique experiments to investigate tall tales. In the first two episodes, Louden and Lung try to prove “delayed causality,” (a dramatic pause before a film character’s head falls off after decapitation), whether or not putting your feet on a car’s dashboard will cause a fatal injury if the airbag deploys, the possibility of a burglar who is stuck in a chimney shooting out of that chimney if the homeowners start a fire, and the chances of a bullet lodged in a tree killing the unlucky logger who accidentally hits it while wielding a chainsaw.

The only myth I had heard of was the delayed causality myth (thanks “Walking Dead” zombies!) but the show’s strength is appealing to viewers’ curiosity. And this reboot’s myths are interesting enough to stick around and find out the answer to the central question, which is always: Can that really happen? In their desert headquarters, Louden and Lung answer it with good humor, a little science talk and a lot of shocked “Did you just see that?!” expressions.

To tackle the myths of the first two episodes, they build a rig that propels a sword over 150 miles per hour, ignite propane gas to rocket a synthetic person into the sky, crash cars and shoot a bullet out of a log with a chainsaw. To recreate the physical damage that would happen to an actual person in the airbag myth, they use synthetic human cadavers or syndavers, which are anatomically accurate. It’s one thing to imagine what an airbag exploding from a dash would do to your legs. It’s another to actually see it when the show’s high-speed camera footage slows it down to all its gruesomeness. Let’s just say ankles and feet bend in ways that aren’t natural.

The amicable hosts keep things fun and authentic. Their experiments and ideas don’t always work the first time so they go back to the drawing board and try again, much like real life. A narrator keeps the pace moving with recaps of the action and simple definitions. In one episode, he cheerfully defines “velocity.” Louden and Lung give more detailed explanations of the science behind the experiments but still keep it basic enough so as not to overshadow the entertainment value.

Bouncing back and forth between two myths per episode gives the format a little suspense. Things are revealed deliberately with the occasional cliffhanger cut to commercial and every explosion or action is kicked off with an enthusiastic 3-2-1 countdown. It’s a “science-lite” approach and like my chemistry teacher’s candy tossing, a fun way to engage an audience.

“MythBusters” is on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Science Channel.

— Melissa Crawley is the author of “Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television’s ‘The West Wing’” and the recently released “The American Television Critic.” She has a Ph.D. in media studies and is a member of the Television Critics Association. To comment on Stay Tuned, email her at staytuned@outlook.com or follow her on Twitter at @MelissaCrawley.

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